Le Pen and Orbán Criticize EU at Rally in France
The far-right leaders convene to celebrate political gains and denounce European immigration policies.
Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Rally, and Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, lambasted the European Union during a rally in Mormant-sur-Vernisson, south of Paris, on Monday.
This gathering, intended to showcase the strength and unity of Europe's anti-immigration factions, coincided with the one-year anniversary of Le Pen's party achieving its highest vote share in the European elections.
The atmosphere at the event was marked by optimism, influenced partly by recent victories for right-wing candidates across Europe and the implications of Donald Trump's re-entry into political prominence in the United States.
Orbán, asserting his identity as the 'black sheep of the EU' and a 'nightmare for Brussels', criticized the union's migration policies, likening them to an organized effort to 'replace the cultural base' of Europe.
He took pride in Hungary's strict border controls, stating, 'We will not let them destroy our cities, rape our girls and women, kill peaceful citizens.'
Le Pen characterized the EU as a 'graveyard of politically unfulfilled promises,' targeting what she termed its 'woke and ultra-liberal' tendencies.
She declared, 'We don't want to leave the table.
We want to finish the game and win, to take power in France and in Europe and give it back to the people.' The shift in her party’s stance reflects a new emphasis on advocating for reform within the EU rather than calling for an exit, a strategy intended to enhance the party's electability.
The rally drew other notable figures from the European far-right, including Matteo Salvini, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the League party, and Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain's Vox party.
These leaders are affiliated with the Patriots for Europe faction in the European Parliament, navigating a landscape with multiple competing far-right groups.
Salvini spoke vehemently against migration, labeling it a 'threat' to European society, specifically targeting illegal immigration and attributing it primarily to Islamists.
The event faced significant opposition, with approximately 4,000 detractors, representing a coalition of left-wing activists and trade unions, protesting nearby.
Organizers of the protest accused the rally attendees of embodying the 'worst of the racist and xenophobic European far right.' Manon Aubry, a hard-left Member of the European Parliament, described the leaders present as 'not welcome.'
As the next presidential elections in France approach, potentially altering the political landscape, Le Pen's viability as a candidate remains uncertain due to a recent legal conviction that currently disqualifies her from running for office.
She has appealed this decision, but her party is prepared to support Jordan Bardella, the current RN leader, should she be unable to participate.
Bardella has been actively shaping his public image in anticipation of a potential candidacy, emphasizing a break from previous leadership and promoting a 'true Europe.' In his address to attendees, he rejected the EU under Ursula von der Leyen and President Macron, presenting the RN as a force of rebirth for the continent.
Orbán expressed his desire for the RN to succeed in upcoming elections, asserting that without their support, far-right forces would struggle to 'occupy Brussels' and undermine what he termed the 'Brussels guillotine' pressing down on Hungary.
This gathering, intended to showcase the strength and unity of Europe's anti-immigration factions, coincided with the one-year anniversary of Le Pen's party achieving its highest vote share in the European elections.
The atmosphere at the event was marked by optimism, influenced partly by recent victories for right-wing candidates across Europe and the implications of Donald Trump's re-entry into political prominence in the United States.
Orbán, asserting his identity as the 'black sheep of the EU' and a 'nightmare for Brussels', criticized the union's migration policies, likening them to an organized effort to 'replace the cultural base' of Europe.
He took pride in Hungary's strict border controls, stating, 'We will not let them destroy our cities, rape our girls and women, kill peaceful citizens.'
Le Pen characterized the EU as a 'graveyard of politically unfulfilled promises,' targeting what she termed its 'woke and ultra-liberal' tendencies.
She declared, 'We don't want to leave the table.
We want to finish the game and win, to take power in France and in Europe and give it back to the people.' The shift in her party’s stance reflects a new emphasis on advocating for reform within the EU rather than calling for an exit, a strategy intended to enhance the party's electability.
The rally drew other notable figures from the European far-right, including Matteo Salvini, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the League party, and Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain's Vox party.
These leaders are affiliated with the Patriots for Europe faction in the European Parliament, navigating a landscape with multiple competing far-right groups.
Salvini spoke vehemently against migration, labeling it a 'threat' to European society, specifically targeting illegal immigration and attributing it primarily to Islamists.
The event faced significant opposition, with approximately 4,000 detractors, representing a coalition of left-wing activists and trade unions, protesting nearby.
Organizers of the protest accused the rally attendees of embodying the 'worst of the racist and xenophobic European far right.' Manon Aubry, a hard-left Member of the European Parliament, described the leaders present as 'not welcome.'
As the next presidential elections in France approach, potentially altering the political landscape, Le Pen's viability as a candidate remains uncertain due to a recent legal conviction that currently disqualifies her from running for office.
She has appealed this decision, but her party is prepared to support Jordan Bardella, the current RN leader, should she be unable to participate.
Bardella has been actively shaping his public image in anticipation of a potential candidacy, emphasizing a break from previous leadership and promoting a 'true Europe.' In his address to attendees, he rejected the EU under Ursula von der Leyen and President Macron, presenting the RN as a force of rebirth for the continent.
Orbán expressed his desire for the RN to succeed in upcoming elections, asserting that without their support, far-right forces would struggle to 'occupy Brussels' and undermine what he termed the 'Brussels guillotine' pressing down on Hungary.
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